Sybil Shanahan

“Sybil did an awesome job of choosing music for, and working with, our diverse group." Participant, 2016 LFM camp

Compelling young Canadian cellist Sybil Shanahan is regularly observed to obviously love both the music she performs and the instrument she plays. She has had the distinction of being invited to perform in music festivals around the world and has toured throughout Canada, Europe and South Africa to date. Sybil has been a member of the genre diverse chamber group Ensemble Vivant since 2010.

Among her orchestral engagements, Sybil can be heard performing with the Ontario Philharmonic and the Toronto Concert Orchestra. She is also involved with several community musical outreach programs where she brings music to those who don’t often get to experience it.

Sybil’s debut album ‘Caprice’ features French Romantic cello duets, and was quickly followed by the release of ‘Mysterium: Music from the Labyrinth’ featuring the music of Canadian contemporary composer John Burke. Besides her classical engagements, Sybil arranges pop music for her group Beaux Strings, and has recorded on albums and film scores for a wide variety of artists. She can currently be seen in a national Scotiabank commercial.

Sybil holds a Master’s Degree from the class of cello soloist Patrick Demenga at the Conservatoire de Lausanne in Switzerland and received a Bachelor of Music from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam while studying with Gregor Horsch, principal cellist of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Committed to the importance of fostering a continued love of classical music, Sybil maintains a private cello studio based in Toronto and particularly enjoys her work with adult amateur cellists.